From back east to back then.......

Here we have a model from the year 1987....

Rumor has it that it got some wide body surgery and then moved to New  York.  Though it was nicely done, the streets of the Big Apple were not kind to it;  When we first saw it it looked like it got jumped in a dark alley.

The long trip across country was slow but safe, it made to TRE Motorsports when they gave it new legs and it can roll its way to us.  We checked all vitals, replace the damaged skin and will give it a new identity

The wide body covered in white paint with black letters will be history.  A new page will be written when the transformation is completed.
Panels will be change, holes plugged, pieces added. Fueling the 3.2 litter engine will be different.
The next time it enters that alley, it will don the looks of a 1973 RSR with Mexico Blue skin. upgraded suspension and vintage interior, fiberglass pieces will make it lighter and faster than before.

Fill it up !!

Ok, let's talk center filled fuel tank.

Sometimes it's fun to answer a question that does not have a answer, or have an answer but no question.  let me explain, in life we do things that are wrong and do things that are not;  when it comes to cars, sometimes it does not matter.

Somebody asked the question of how to make the opening for a center filled tank that Porsche Race Department was commissioned to do when they created the light weight version of the 911.  That meant a lot of items being deleted and made upgrades being integrated, we will focus on the center fill gas tank used on so many 911 now, only because it looks cool.

We have done this many times using a drill bit and a air reciprocate saw, it works for us and for other shops I've talked to, but there is a catch, a few reasons why this work for us and it may not work for you.  First, we don't use the big hole saw you see on one of this pictures, that thing create a lot of heat and as you punch thru, it can damages the structure of the hood, leaving that are very flimsy. second, you think you have to cut a perfect circle, not really, just cut enough to give the filler neck clearance, cut small and make your way around it.

Make sure your tank is sitting properly and use a new seal, find a fiberglass or metal venturi looking section and weld or bond it to the opening and make sure it looks centered on the hood; There you have it, we have gone north, east, west and south and arrived in downtown at the same time.  By the way, this made the short wheel base 911 R legendary !

The Bare necessities ....

Finally !!!!   a plain Jane stock paint job....

Or is it???
Even though a new project comes in as a stock, nothing out of the ordinary, there are always a few little surprises waiting for us.

From Santa Barbara to our shop......Let's get busy

First things first,  all panels, trim and glass has to come off;  All rubber  will be replaced

Next:  that mid 80s respray job will have to come off as well.  It would be difficult to guaranty a high end paint job without going all the way to the bare metal

And since we are in luck,  this is a 1979.......galvanized metal........To some it is a great thing, but to painters and body men, it could be a nightmare, all thanks to EPA  that banned the use of some great products that did not meet Los Angeles standards.

After striping the body and found only some waves and door dings,  looks like we are in pretty good shape,  we will apply our direct to metal primer and then our surfacer.   Next will be the prepping and disassemble of it to give it a bath in Grand Prix White.

If it walks like a duck .....

and dresses like a duck.......

Who knows if it's a duck.......    The Boss owns a 1974 Carrera RS.......Original Ducktail.  This Black 86 wants one.

 For years I have been complaining about the poor quality of duck tails that we install but I have never been asked to do one, until now.  Metal based and fiberglass top to mimic the original one.

 

And I must say, what a paint in the rear.  I do understand now why the more affordable ones are of such poor quality,  the hours that are involved in a project like this are not cost effective.  Once you move one thing, everything else changes angles.

So, for us to make this a production item is not a reality, but we do have a couple of orders, some of our clients are very dedicated to their cars and want to have a duck tail made specific the their car.......and that is something to brag about.

Rude Awakenings

Time flies.....even if you are not having any fun....

Imagine this, you don't drive your car for a month........and then another month goes by and another;  Next, you find yourself wondering if you can go another month, like trying to kick a bad habit you dare yourself to do it

Soon you discover that months have turned to years and when remember that is going to be a decade, well, now you start to realized that some things are going to need changing and that is going to take money,  will have to wait a little longer.

In all the years that I have wore the grease monkey hat,  I have seen this many times.  it is a work in progress,  I'm in no rush, not enough money, not enough time  and so forth

So here we are, July 2012,  when I hear from my boss, there is a car coming today, it hasn't been started in a while...................License plate has tags of 1991, the gasoline in the tank went back to be crude oil,  the top notch lacquer paint job from the 80's help up pretty good, but it was no match for the galvanized coating of this upgraded 69 ex-long hood.


Time can be cruel to rubber and plastic and after replacing and repairing and refreshing the necessary parts, we were able to check the vitals and presto !!    purrrr like a kitten.   It has been given a lot of love and I think we are in the right track to recovery.

High standards

Quality is not a matter of money.....is a matter of pride......I read this phrase somewhere.....true to a point...........

But.......what if you don't have any talent !!

Some people claim that they have high standards, but, again, what if they're short and distance is not the same as those of others.

Anyway, after countless hours of redoing everything that was not period correct on this 74,  we are finally on the last stretch, every panel, from the roof to the wheel wells have been detailed with the correct, color and finish.

All the extra holes were plugged, every piece of wire was cleaned and every piece of hardware was change to match the correct shade of cad plating.........soon we. will be judged !!!

Wish list

When it comes to restoring a Porsche 911

We usually get a big list,  sometimes it is all the matching numbers and sometimes it is all the mods to be made...

In the case of this 1972,  it is going to have some serious mods to take the 3.8 engine with a monster air injection and a 6 speed. 

So, this body will have to be reinforced:
1:  stitch weld the tub.
2:  reinforce the shock tower.
3:  rinforce the jack points.
4:  double the inner rocker panels.
5:  weld in strut braces.
6.  weld in section for power brakes.
7:  remove rear tray and fab custom one.
8:  remove rocker panel and fab stainless steel oil lines.
9:  remove rain gutters for a slick look.

151:  prepare for a tripple black paint.

201:  polish to the highest shine...I want to see myself !!

Looks like we have a lot to do yet, but it is coming.
Once the gaps and lines have been matched, it's all down hill from there.

Stay tune...........

Horror stories

They do happen from time to time

If one researches a shop, or one is recommended to one,  why is this the result ??

A 1974 911 that is in need of some TLC goes to a shop,  a promise of an excellent job is made and price is agreed.   After months and a lot of unhappiness, the result was not what was promised, sad to say but it was just make up.

I know I've had my shares of mistakes throughout my years of grease monkey, but to put 4 different bolts to hold the engine lid.....really, the most basic of things.

The horror of it is that the suspension pan was just tacked, I was surprised that the suspension did not fall off.   As luck would have it, our customer finally found TRE Motorsports and they recommended us to take care of Greenie,  we were supposed to take care of the suspension area and a few small things.

This car is special, it deserves the proper job and my customer said, I want the car the way it was on July 30th of 1974.

Stay tune..........

Suspension pan

Not too many months go by without one of these jobs coming in. 

And with each job there is always something different about the parts.

There are different vendors and they have their following, so many times parts are provided by the client, who's done some research, so may times I hear  "all you have to do..."

We have performed this procedure may dozen times, and there is always something we don't approve of the parts

I noticed on this particular part that the A arm mounting points were just tacked,  some may think that it is enough, but not us, after all, it is a very important area.

I think it would be very irresponsible of me not to do anything about it, sure it may be overkill, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. 

In this case...more is better.

I'll tell you what I want.......

What I really, really want....

After a few moons of working on this Golden Targa, we have changed a few things, and now that our client has road tested, a few things came under review.

Though the whole interior has been re done with suede, leather and the skin of some exotic birds, a few things seem to be out of place or out of date.

From this angle, the shift knob is really an eye sore. so much difference from the LED courtesy lights on the foot well, we are going to keep those and replace the knob.

Now.  from this angle you can agree that the steering wheel really needs to go, even though we gave it some skin, still, it does not cut it,  We are going to need MOMO,  Millennium Evo to be exact. It is a cool looking wheel that will go the modernized version of this Targa.

The E brake handle was not made to our client liking, so a billet piece will have to replace one half of it to avoid wear and tear.

In a few days we will see the delivery truck with all our goodies and our list will get shorter, should be fun, we also order new front blinstein sports struts, and our second test should take place.

Are we having fun yet.....